The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-08-05
THE FISHERIES QUESTION.
The Washington Authorities Said tc
Have Proposed a Settlement.
Which Displeases Canadians but
Finds Favor in England.
American Vessels Seized by the
Cruisers and Released.
Ispecial 10 tne Press.l

HALIFAX, N. S., Aug. Additional conf
plants have been received of the robbery of
fresh bait and hooks by Americans from Ca
madam fishing vessels on the Banks. The
schooner Clara E. Mason, of Lunenburg, re-
ports that her bait and hooks were stolen by
the Gloucester schooner Schuyler Colfax.
The schooner Brilliant reports that she was
also victim of the Gloucester schooner Ev-
erett Steele.
Reports from Western Banks bankers and
the middle grounds show that fishing is very
good at those places. Three maekerel sen-
ers arrived at Canso today, on their way
home with only ninety-six barrels of fish be-
tween them.
The Yantic was at Charlottetown today.
Proposals for Settlement.
TORONTO, Aug 4.-The Globe this morn
ing says that special cable despatch reports
that fresh proposals for the settlement of
the fisheries dispute have recently been sub
mitted by the Washington authorities. They
were opposed at Ottawa, and favorably re-
ceiyed by the Imperial government, but are
still under consideration. The details of
the proposals are not known, but it is under
stood that more hopeful view of the possi-
bility of speedy settlement is now taken at
the White House.
In Canadian Cruisers Clutches.
OTTAWA, Aug. 4.-The Department of
Fisheries was yesterday notified of the seiz-
ure of two American slOops, named the
Fanny and the James A. Garfield. They
were caught in Quoddy river, N. H., bound
for Eastport, Me-, with cargoes of herring,
Qh moi al Lot
custom house. Pending the receipt of fur
ther particulars, the department gave in
structions to release the vessels on the de-
posit of small fine.
ST. JOHN, Aug. 4.-Yesterday the captain
of the steam cruiser Intrepid seized the fish
ing boat Gold Dust, belonging to Mr.. Blan-
chard, a sardine packer of Eastport, while
taking in fish at Fair Haven, Deer Island.
This boat has been running all the season
without having once complied with the law
by entering or clearing at custom houses.
She was towed to st. Andrews, and orders
are awaited from Ottawa.
One Case of Technical Violation.
OTTAWA, Aug. A despatch from Wash
ington says that from late information re-
celved by the Department it does not appear
that the Canadian government has made any
unlawful seizure of American vessels or vi0-
lated any international law. "There is one
case, | believe" said Assistant Secretary of
State Porter. where there was a technical
violation of the law by the Canadian author
tiles, but that has never been, nor will it be
satisfactorily adjusted The case of sailors
who were detained, as at first reported, and
prevented from leaving the country, is easily
explained now. 1t seems that they wished
to report from a Canadian port. Canada had
perfect right to object to that We would
do the same if the situations were reversed.
Mr.. Porter said he saw no reason to antici-
pate any serious trouble with Canada, grow
ing out of the fisheries dispute, although it
was probably true that some of the Canadi-
an officials had shown Scant courtesy in en-
forcing the law
Treatment of Captured Fishermen.
In referring to the fisheries question, this
morning, the deputy minister of fisheries ex-
pressed regrets that the statements frequent
ly communicated to the American press with
reference to the recent seizure, or detention,
of American fishing vessels, were not of a
more accurate character. 1t is made to ap-
pear from the statements published in the
American papers that the crews of the es-
capped vessels French and Argonaut, which
were brought to Souris bv the Canadian
cruiser Critic, were not well treated; also,
that transportation to their homes in other
fishing vessels had been denied them. These
statements, the deputy says, are incorrect.
With regard to the first, the collector of Gus
toms apSouris was instructed by the fisher
les department, Immediately upon the receipt
of adyices of the seizure of the boats and
seines and the detention of the crews,
to see that the men were properly taken care
of and supplied with food and other necessa-
ries. In relation to the second charge, the
deputy said that the collector was instructed
that the men should be allowed to go on any
homeward bound vessel, if the American
consular agent at Sours would give an as
suranee tina. they would not be put on board
of the escaped vessels. 1t appears that
prior to the receipt of these instructions, the
men had been sent home by the steamer
from Charlottetown. He further states that
the department has information that there
are at the present time more than 200 Amer
lean fishing vessels in the vicinity of North
Bay, p. E. L., very few of which have
secured good fares. Some have abandoned
their fishing voyage and gone home. The
lnackerel are very plentiful, and are school
ing well in shore, where the Canadian
fishermen are securing large fares.
Not Credited at Washington.
WASHINGTON. Aug 4.-The rumor that
satisfactory settlement of the fisheries cues
tion has been made is discredited in Wash